Role of Skeletal Muscle MRI in Peripheral Nerve...

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Role of Skeletal Muscle MRI in Peripheral Nerve Disorders

Nozomu Matsuda, Shunsuke Kobayashi and Yoshikazu Ugawa Fukushima Medical University, Department of Neurology

Japan

1. Introduction

In diagnosing peripheral nerve disorders, the involved nerves can usually be determined based on clinical history and neurological findings with the aid of electrophysiological examinations. Despite the principle, we often encounter diagnostic challenges. In this chapter, we describe the clinical utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the evaluation of peripheral nerve disorders. MRI can visualize pathological changes in skeletal muscles secondary to lesions of the peripheral nerve, plexus or nerve root. The lesion sites may be inferred based on the distribution of the involved muscles. After the first report in 1987 (Shabas et al., 1987), MRI has increasingly been used to evaluate denervated muscles (West et al., 1994; Fleckenstein et al., 1993; Uetani et al., 1993). In particular, studies of entrapment or compressive neuropathy have greatly contributed to the understanding of clinical-radiological correlations in peripheral nerve damage. Animal experiments have also been conducted, in which muscle MRI was examined after peripheral nerve transection. MRI has several distinct advantages over needle electromyography (EMG), including non-invasiveness, accessibility to deep muscles and interexaminer reliability (Koltzenburg and Bendszus, 2004; Bendszus et al., 2003; McDonald et al., 2000). MRI is particularly useful as needle EMG is difficult to perform on children or patients on anticoagulation. Excellent spatial resolution allows MRI to detect atrophy of the small muscles, moreover, different MRI pulse sequences show sensitivity to different stages of denervation, thus, MRI can provide valuable information about the duration of muscle denervation (Kamath et al., 2008). MRI has a potential to visualize mass lesions causing nerve damage, such as tumours, which is useful for the clinical judgment of surgical resectability (Grant et al., 2002). An abnormal MR signal in muscles is not specific to denervation and may also be seen in any condition that causes muscle edema, including severe muscle strains, blunt trauma and acute myositis. Thus, MRI findings need to be interpreted in combination with other clinical information. Previous muscle MRI studies of peripheral nerve disorders have mostly focused on entrapment or compression neuropathy (Andreisek et al., 2006; Petchprapa et al., 2010; Donovan et al., 2010). However, given its capability in visualizing pathological changes and mapping the distributions of the involved muscles, the use of MRI can be extended to a variety of peripheral nerve disorders. We will give a theoretical background of muscle MRI and describe its clinical applications in peripheral nerve disorders with some representative cases. We will also mention non-muscular features of MRI, e.g. nerve signal

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and mass lesions causing nerve damage, which contribute to the diagnosis of peripheral nerve disorders.

2. Radiological basis of muscle MRI

Normal muscles have intermediate to long T1 and short T2 relaxation times of MRI relative to the surrounding soft tissue. The spin-echo decay curve of skeletal muscle has been modelled to fit into a multi-exponent curve, in which the longer component is extracellular water and the shorter component is intracellular water (Hazlewood et al., 1974). The other determinants of MR relaxation times in muscle include tissue fat, total water content and blood volume. In theory, increased extracellular fluid in denervated muscles causes prolongation of both T1 and T2 relaxation times, because the relaxation time of water in the extracellular space of muscle is about four times that of the myoplasm (Polak et al., 1988). Most clinical studies show a normal T1 signal in the denervated muscles in the acute phase, thus sensitivity of the T1-weighted sequence appears to be low for detection of early stage denervation. By contrast, T2-weighted images reliably detect muscle denervation in the acute phase. A longitudinal imaging study in rats showed T2 signal changes as early as 48 hours after complete transection of the sciatic nerve and the signal intensity continued to increase until two months after denervation (Bendszus et al., 2002; Table 1). Another factor that may contribute to MRI signal changes in denervated muscles is the altered blood flow caused by an interruption of the sympathetic vasoconstriction. Blood flow increases immediately after denervation, with a subsequent decline in the following week. An experimental nerve compression study found a strong correlation between T2 signal intensity and blood volume in vivo (Hayashi et al., 1997; Wessig et al., 2004). However, the time course of the blood flow changes was not in parallel to that of the MR signal changes. Thus, it remains unclear as to how much the blood flow changes explain MR signals in denervated muscles. Several MR sequences are known to be particularly sensitive to early changes in denervated muscles. Inversion-recovery imaging, including turbo inversion recovery magnitude (TIRM) and short tau inversion recovery (STIR), suppresses the fat signal based on differences in the T1 relaxation time of the tissues and enhances differences between the water content of the tissues. In an experimental nerve transection study with rats, the TIRM signal started to increase as early as 24 hours after denervation (Bendszus et al., 2002). In clinical studies, an abnormal STIR signal in the denervated muscles has been demonstrated within four days after the onset of clinical symptoms (West et al., 1994). Generally, the threshold for producing an increased STIR signal is weakness graded at ‘3’ (antigravity) or less out of ‘5’ on the Medical Research Council’s (MRC) scale. Use of a contrast medium, such as gadolinium (Gd) diethyltriaminepentaacetic acid, may increase sensitivity for detecting muscle denervation. Gd uptake appears to start within days after symptom onset and the extent of the enhancement correlates with electrophysiological signs of denervation. A rat experiment showed the Gd enhancement as early as 24 hours after nerve lesion and the effect increased over time until it reached a plateau on day 21 (Bendszus and Koltzenburg, 2001). Gd enhancement could be caused by a dilatation of the vascular bed, an enlargement of the extracellular space or both. Therefore, fluid accumulation appears to contribute to both Gd uptake and T2 prolongation. Traditionally, nerve injury is classified into three grades. In neurapraxic nerve injuries, axons are spared but myelin sheath is damaged causing conduction delay or block. The

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damage is usually transient and self-limiting with complete recovery. Axonotmesis is the intermediate grade of nerve injury, in which axons distal to the site of injury are disrupted with preserved connective tissue framework of the nerve. Neurotmesis is the most severe form of nerve injury, characterized by loss of axonal continuity along with disruption of the surrounding myelin sheath and connective tissue. The aforementioned signal changes in T2, TIRM and STIR sequences are observed in severe axonotmetic and neurotmetric injuries, in which the axons are disrupted and Wallerian degeneration follows. In axonotmetic nerve injuries, the abnormal signal of muscle MRI will return to normal as axons regenerate (Kikuchi et al., 2003). In neurotmetic injuries, the increased MR signal in the involved muscles will eventually decrease with atrophy and fatty infiltration, which is best visualized with the T1-weighted sequence. MRI may be able to differentiate axonotmetic from neurotmetic nerve injury, because the increased T2 signal persists longer in neurotmesis than in axonotmesis. In predominantly neurapraxic injuries with minimal axonal loss, the involved muscles exhibit normal signal characteristics on T2 and STIR pulse sequences.

T1-weighted T2-weighted STIR Gadolinium

Acute (< 1 month)

Unchanged Increased Increased Enhancement

Subacute (1-6

months)

Unchanged Increased Increased or

Normalized

No enhancement

Chronic (> 6

months)

Increased (fatty degeneration)

or Unchanged

(fair reinnervation)

Increased or

Normalized

Normalized No enhancement

Table 1. MRI findings of denervated muscles at different stages.

3. Correlations between muscle MRI and electrophysiological findings

The EMG findings in peripheral nerve disorders reflect the functional processes of denervation and reinnervation. Active denervation causes spontaneous discharge of single muscle fibres, which is observed as fibrillation potentials and positive sharp waves. Spontaneous motor unit potentials caused by irritability of motor neurons are observed as fasciculation. In the case of traumatic nerve injuries, EMG evidence of denervation usually develops in two to three weeks. On the other hand, early change of MRI signal in denervated muscles is observed as early as four days after the onset of clinical symptoms (West et al., 1994). Thus, MRI signal change appears to develop no later than EMG change. Good time sensitivity of MRI may reflect early development of the myoplasm- to-extracellular fluid shift in denervated muscles as compared with delayed electrophysiological manifestation of spontaneous EMG activity. Beside the time sensitivity, detection sensitivity is also important when considering

radiological-physiological correlations. McDonald and colleagues directly compared the

findings of MRI and needle EMG in 90 patients with peripheral nerve injury or

radiculopathy of one to four months duration (McDonald et al., 2000). The results of the two

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methods matched anatomically in 49 subjects, i.e. the specific muscles showing abnormal

spontaneous EMG activity correlated directly with the increased STIR signal on MRI.

Moreover, the STIR intensity tended to increase with the higher degree of spontaneous

activity as measured with EMG. It should be noted that, in 16 (18%) subjects, abnormal

spontaneous EMG activity was present in the muscles that did not show increased STIR. The

results indicate that the STIR has lower sensitivity than needle EMG. Bendszus and

colleagues conducted a similar study with Gd-enhanced MRI in patients with a foot drop

caused by L5 radiculopathy, common peroneal nerve palsy and sciatic nerve palsy. They

found that Gd enhancement was more prominent in the muscles with EMG signs of

denervation compared to those without denervation signs (Bendszus and Koltzenburg,

2001; Bendszus et al., 2003). To summarise, the STIR and Gd-enhanced MRI have good

sensitivity for detecting denervated muscles, if not better than needle EMG.

After acute denervation, reinnervation occurs by collateral sprouting, which manifests on

EMG as polyphasic motor unit action potentials (MUPs) with a prolonged duration. During

the chronic stage, reinnervated muscle fibres are integrated into large MUPs. In a study that

examined EMG and MRI in patients with axonal motor sensory polyneuropathy, the MUP

size showed a positive correlation with T1 signal intensity. Thus, the increase of T1 signal

may well reflect the fatty replacement of those muscle fibres that are not reinnervated and

thus not integrated into working motor units (Jonas et al., 2000).

4. Basics of peripheral nerve imaging

The standard evaluation of a peripheral nerve is based on morphological image analysis

on T1-weighted sequences and on signal change analysis on fat-suppressed sequences.

T2-weighted images have exquisite resolution, but pathologic findings are generally not

as conspicuous as on STIR imaging. Normal peripheral nerves appear isointense

compared to muscle, surrounded by a small rim of fat tissue. An entrapped nerve

generally shows increased signal on T2-weighted and STIR images over the abnormal

segment (Hof et al., 2008; Stoll et al., 2009; Thawait et al., 2011; Table 2). Distal extension

of the high intensity signal in an injured nerve may indicate axonal damage due to

Wallerian degeneration.

Normal peripheral nerve Abnormal peripheral nerve

Size

Smaller than accompanying

artery

Larger than accompanying artery

Focal or diffuse enlargement

Fascicular

pattern

Seen in especially large nerves Loss of normal fascicular pattern

T1-weighted Isointensity to muscle Isointensity to muscle

T2-weighted Iso to minimal high intensity Moderate to marked high intensity

Gadolinium No enhancement Enhancement

(when blood-nerve barrier is disturbed)

Table 2. MRI findings of a normal and abnormal peripheral nerve (modified from Thawait et al., 2011 with permission).

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The signal changes of injured nerves on T2-weighted and STIR images may reflect changes

in water content due to altered axoplasmic flow, endoneurial or perineurial edema as a

result of changes in the blood-nerve barrier or axonal myelin degeneration (Filler et al.,

1996).

5. Clinical application of MRI in peripheral nerve disorders

MRI has been used to detect mass lesions and inflammation causing entrapment or

compression neuropathy. MRI can also evaluate muscle denervation secondary to nerve

damage. Thus it is applied to a wide range of peripheral nerve disorders, including

polyneuropathy, radiculopathy and plexopathy. MRI may show a specific pattern of

denervated muscles depending on the level of peripheral nerve damage. Here we describe

the MRI findings of common peripheral nerve disorders and discuss the clinical utility of

MRI.

5.1 Mononeuropathy The common causes of mononeuropathy include entrapment, compression and stretch of

the nerves. Nerve entrapment often occurs at the sites where the nerve courses through

fibro-osseous or fibromuscular tunnels or penetrates a muscle. Nerve compression may be

due to an adjacent mass, such as ganglion, synovial cyst, lipoma and tumour. Inflammation

from tenosynovitis and bursitis may also cause mononeuropathy. It is clinically important to

determine the lesion sites and evaluate the severity and prognosis. MRI is useful for the

diagnosis of mononeuropathy because: i) a mass lesion causing nerve compression may be

directly depicted, ii) a localized abnormal T2 signal may be seen within the injured segment

of the nerves, and iii) involved muscles may show an abnormal MR signal, indicating the

severity and duration of denervation. This section focuses on common types of

mononeuropathy with special emphasis on MRI findings (Sallomi et al., 1998; Lisle and

Johnstone, 2007; Kim et al., 2011).

5.1.1 Median nerve Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy. CTS presents with intermittent pain and numbness of the thumb, index, middle and radial half of the ring finger. Long-standing CTS leads to weakness and atrophy of the abductor pollicis brevis, opponens pollicis, flexor pollicis brevis and the first and second lumbrical muscles. Occasionally, sensory symptoms of the CTS may present beyond the median nerve territory, sometimes mimicking radicular pain in cervical radiculopathy. Differential diagnosis of CTS includes C6-7 radiculopathy, polyneuropathy and proximal entrapment of the median nerve. Electrodiagnostic tests are 85-90% accurate in patients with CTS, with a false-negative rate of 10-15%. Therefore, in cases of clinically symptomatic CTS with normal electrophysiological findings, MRI has a complementary role in diagnosis. The denervated thenar muscle may show an increased STIR signal (West et al., 1994; Jarvik et al., 2002). It has been reported that the median nerve itself shows an abnormal MRI signal in CTS. The common findings are isolated prestenotic and intracarpal swelling and an increased T2 signal retrograde to the distal radius (Mesgarzadeh et al., 1989). Anatomical constriction of the median nerve may also be revealed by MRI. Pronounced palmar bowing of the flexor retinaculum (transverse carpal ligament) observed in the MRI

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of CTS patients show a significant correlation with subjective reports of pain severity (Tsujii et al., 2009). Horch and colleagues conducted a dynamic MRI study of 20 wrists of CTS patients (Horch et al., 1997). They measured the cross-sectional area of the carpal tunnel with different angles of wrist flexion and extension. They demonstrated that the carpal tunnel was smaller during wrist flexion, but the size was not significantly smaller in CTS patients as compared with normal volunteers. They also conducted a longitudinal study of CTS after surgical decompression. They found that the distal flattening of the median nerve, as visualized by MRI, normalized in 94% of the patients and the abnormal T2 signal decreased in 67% of the patients within six months postoperatively. Jarvik and colleagues prospectively studied a large cohort of 120 subjects with clinically suspected CTS (Jarvik et al., 2002). They checked five MRI parameters, namely median nerve signal, degree of nerve compression, bowing of the flexor retinaculum, thickening of the flexor tendon interspace and thenar muscle signal. An increased median nerve signal in the STIR sequence had a high sensitivity (88%), but specificity was low (39%). By contrast, an increased thenar muscle signal had a low sensitivity (10%), but specificity was high (90%). A combination of all parameters yielded high sensitivity (92%), but specificity was low (39%). To recap, electrophysiological tests are still the gold standard, but MRI plays a complementary role in the diagnosis of CTS. The anterior interosseous nerve is the largest branch of the median nerve, innervating the

flexor pollicis longus (FPL), pronator quadratus and the radial half of the flexor digitorum

profundus (FDP) muscles. Anterior interosseous nerve syndrome, also known as Kiloh-

Nevin syndrome, is usually caused by entrapment or compression of the median nerve in

the proximal forearm. The patients show pinching deformity due to weakness of the FPL or

FDP muscle. Because the anterior interosseous nerve is purely a motor nerve, its damage

will not cause sensory loss, though dull pain may be present in the volar aspect of the

forearm. During the acute to subacute stages, axial T2 or STIR images may depict a high

intensity signal in the FPL, FDP and pronator quadratus muscles (Grainger et al., 1998;

Spratt et al., 2002). However, the MRI findings have to be interpreted carefully, because a

recent study showed that high intensity in the pronator quadratus muscle is sometimes

observed in subjects without evidence of anterior interosseous nerve syndrome

(Gyftopoulos et al., 2010). Over diagnosis of the anterior interosseous nerve syndrome

should be avoided by knowing the prevalence of increased MR signals in the pronator

quadratus muscle.

5.1.2 Ulnar nerve The cubital tunnel, located posterior to the medial epicondyle of the humerus, is the most common site of ulnar nerve palsy. The possible causes of cubital tunnel syndrome include external compression (e.g. sleep palsy, perioperative damage), prolonged and excessive elbow flexion, trauma (e.g. from using jackhammers, humeral fracture with loose bodies or callus formation), a nerve-compressing lesion (e.g. ganglionic cysts, lipoma) and infection (Kato et al., 2002). Clinically, cubital tunnel syndrome presents with weakness and atrophy of hand intrinsic muscles, and sensory loss at the ring and little fingers. The MRI shows high intensity signals with a T2-weighted or STIR pulse sequence in the flexor carpi ulnaris and the ulnar half of the FDP muscles. Dynamic compression and inflammation will be seen on MRI as thickening and high intensity of the ulnar nerve on sagittal T2-weighted images (Rosenberg et al., 1993). Compression by a soft tissue mass may also be well depicted with

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MRI. Dislocation and subluxation of the ulnar nerve would be detected on axial images during elbow flexion. Guyon canal syndrome results from entrapment of the ulnar nerve as it passes through the

wrist. Possible causes of ulnar nerve lesions at the Guyon canal include cystic lesions and

chronic repetitive trauma (e.g. handlebar palsy in cyclists). Patients of Guyon canal

syndrome experience wrist pain, sensory deficit in the ulnar nerve territory and weakness of

ulnar intrinsic hand muscles. The hypothenar muscle may be spared in a distal lesion of the

deep motor branch. A MRI may help exclude the presence of a mass lesion (Pearce et al.,

2009) and an axial MRI at the level of the metacarpal bones is useful for detecting

denervation of the intrinsic hand muscles (Andreisek et al., 2006).

5.1.3 Radial nerve Radial tunnel syndrome (also known as posterior interosseous nerve syndrome or supinator

(SP) muscle syndrome) is caused by entrapment or compression of the deep branch of the

radial nerve, as it passes under the tendinous arch of the supinator muscle (arcade of

Frohse). The posterior interosseous nerve supplies the extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) muscle

and the digital extensor muscles. The most consistent symptoms are deep aching pain in the

forearm, pain radiation to the neck and shoulder, a sense of heaviness of the affected arm

and an inability to sleep on the affected side (Rinker et al., 2004). Frequent causes of this

syndrome are trauma, tumours, bursitis and cysts. Differential diagnoses include lateral

epicondylitis (tennis elbow) and cervical radiculopathy. Electrophysiological studies are not

useful in confirming the diagnosis, because the results are often normal or equivocal and no

well-established criteria for diagnosis exist. MRI is useful to screen for a mass lesion

compressing the posterior interosseous nerve. MRI may also detect denervation signals in

the muscles supplied by the posterior interosseous nerve. Ferdinand and colleagues

retrospectively studied 25 patients who were clinically suspected of having radial tunnel

syndrome (Ferdinand et al., 2006). The most common MRI finding was denervation edema

within the muscles innervated by the posterior interosseous nerve, most frequently within

the SP (44%) and less frequently within the proximal forearm extensor muscles (12%). Seven

patients (28%) showed evidence of a mass effect along the course of the posterior

interosseous nerve, including thickening of the leading edge of the extensor carpi radialis

brevis, prominent recurrent radial vessels, a schwannoma and a bicipitoradial bursa.

Case Presentation: Posterior interosseus nerve palsy

A 57-year-old male farmer noticed weakness of the right fingers after harvesting rice.

Neurological examination revealed isolated finger extensor weakness 2/5 MRC scale with

no sensory deficits. Deep tendon reflexes were normal. A painless mass was palpable in the

right proximal forearm. The EMG showed active neurogenic change in the right extensor

digitorum communis muscle. An MRI study detected a cystic lesion in the proximal forearm

(Fig. 1a, arrow). The T2 high signal was observed in the radial-innervated muscles distal to

the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) muscle (SP, ECU, extensor digitorum [ED],

extensor digitorum minimi and abductor pollicis longus [APL] muscles in Fig. 1a, 1b,

arrowheads). The signal was normal in the ECRB and brachioradialis (BR) muscles, which

are innervated by branches of the radial nerve proximal to the posterior interosseous nerve.

The pattern of the denervated muscles was compatible with the diagnosis of posterior

interosseous nerve palsy caused by compression around the radial tunnel.

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ECRB

ECRL

BR

APL

ED

EDM

ECU

ED

ECRB BRT2WI

T2WI

SP

a

b c

b

a

Radial nerve

Posterior

interosseus nerve

Superficial

radial nerve

Abductor pollicis longus

Extensor pollicis longus

Extensor pollicis brevis

Extensor indicis

Extensor digiti minimi

Extensor digitorum

Extensor carpi ulnaris

Supinator

Extensor carpi radialis longus

Extensor carpi radialis brevis

Brachioradialis

Abbreviations: abductor pollicis longus (APL), brachioradialis (BR), extensor carpi radialis brevis

(ECRB), extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL), extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU), extensor digitorum (ED),

extensor digitorum minimi (EDM), supinator (SP).

Fig. 1. A case of radial tunnel syndrome caused by a cystic mass. (a, b) Axial T2-weighted MRI of the right forearm. (c) Schema of the radial nerve branches. The planes designated a and b in (c) correspond to the axial slice positions of (a) and (b), respectively.

5.1.4 Common peroneal nerve Common peroneal nerve palsy is the most common mononeuropathy in the lower extremities. Its major cause is trauma, such as compression or stretch at the fibular neck, where the nerve is superficial and vulnerable to injury. The common peroneal nerve bifurcates into the superficial and deep peroneal nerves below the fibular neck. The superficial peroneal nerve supplies the peroneus longus (PL) and brevis muscles, and the deep peroneal nerve supplies the tibialis anterior (TA), extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and extensor hallucis longus muscles. Because both superficial and deep branches of the peroneal nerve innervate foot dorsiflexor muscles, foot drop is caused by damage to either branch. MRI may indicate specific sites of peroneal nerve damage: denervation limited in the anterior compartment (TA and EDL) or lateral compartment (PL) muscles indicates damage of the deep or superficial peroneal nerve, respectively. Involvement of the muscles in both anterior and lateral compartments (TA, EDL and PL) indicates a more proximal lesion of the common peroneal nerve. MRI may also be useful to detect mass lesions, such as ganglion, synovial cyst and osseous mass in a non-traumatic peroneal nerve (Iverson, 2005; Kim et al., 2007). The patterns of muscle denervation observed on MRI may also help

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distinguish peroneal nerve palsy from sciatic nerve palsy, L5 radiculopathy and lumbosacral plexopathy (Bendszus and Koltzenburg, 2001; Bendszus et al., 2003; see also section 5.2).

Case Presentation

Case 1: Common peroneal nerve palsy

A 21-year-old woman developed left foot weakness during the course of treatment for

fulminant myocarditis in the intensive care unit. Neurological examination revealed

weakness of left foot dorsiflexion 2/5 (MRC scale) and a tingling sensation was distributed

on the left lateral leg and dorsal foot. MRI showed a high intensity signal in the TA, EDL

and PL with STIR sequence (Fig. 2a), supporting the diagnosis of common peroneal nerve

palsy.

Case 2: Tibial nerve palsy

A 52-year-old man, with a history of a left tibia fracture at the age of six, was referred to our

hospital for the evaluation of his frequent stumbling. Neurological examination revealed

weakness of plantar flexion and atrophy of the calf muscles on the left leg. MRI showed an

increased T1 signal in the lateral and medial heads of the gastrocnemius (GC), soleus and

tibialis posterior (TP) muscles (Fig. 2b). The MRI findings are compatible with the diagnosis

of tibial mononeuropathy associated with tibial fracture.

c d

STIR L

T1WI

b

STIR

a

Abbreviations: extensor digitorum longus (EDL), gastrocnemius lateral head (GcL), gastrocnemius medial head (GcM), peroneus longus (PL), tibialis anterior (TA), tibialis posterior (TP).

Fig. 2. (a) Compression neuropathy of the common peroneal nerve. Axial MRI of the proximal part of the left leg with STIR sequence. (b) Tibial nerve palsy associated with tibia fracture. Axial T1-weighted MRI of the middle part of the left leg.

5.1.5 Sciatic nerve The above two cases exemplify damages in the tibial and peroneal nerves (section 5.1.4),

both of which are branches of the sciatic nerve. More proximal damage in the sciatic nerve

may additionally involve the hamstring muscles. Causes of sciatic nerve neuropathy include

trauma (e.g. dislocation of the hip joint and pelvic fracture), compression (e.g. tumour and

metastatic lesions) and iatrogenic injury (e.g. in association with total hip replacement and

intramuscular injection). Piriformis syndrome refers to compression of the sciatic nerve by

the piriformis muscle. It induces sciatic pain and numbness in the buttocks, typically

without weakness. The diagnosis of piriformis syndrome is often challenging because of

limited sensitivity and specificity of physical signs and the absence of electrodiagnostic

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criteria. Filler and colleagues demonstrated that unilateral T2 high intensity of the sciatic

nerve at the sciatic notch and asymmetry of the piriformis muscle on the MRI are the

findings specific to piriformis syndrome (Filler et al., 2005). No abnormalities of the sciatic-

innervated muscles are seen on the MRI. Accurate diagnosis of piriformis syndrome is

important because it may lead to surgical treatment for pain relief.

5.1.6 Femoral nerve Causes of femoral neuropathy include compression (e.g. retroperitoneal haemorrhage often from excessive anticoagulation), stretch injuries (e.g. prolonged lithotomy position), surgical procedures (e.g. hip replacement), direct injuries (inguinal surgery and wounds), radiation injury, ischemia (common iliac artery occlusion) and diabetic amyotrophy (Kuntzer et al., 1997). MRI is useful for the evaluation of mass lesions compressing the femoral nerve (Seijo-Martinez et al., 2003; Stuplich et al., 2005). In case of radiation injury, MRI may show local fibrosis constricting the femoral nerve (Nogués et al., 1998). Femoral neuropathy presents, often acutely, with thigh weakness and numbness. Femoral nerve supplies the psoas major, iliacus, pectineus, sartorius and quadriceps femoris muscles. Muscles involved may vary, depending on the level of the nerve lesion. MRI has a potential to detect denervation signals in these muscles (Nogués et al., 1998; Carter et al., 1995).

5.2 Radiculopathy Clinical symptoms of radiculopathy are characterized by pain and radiating paresthesia along the affected dermatomes and motor weakness of the affected myotomes. The common causes of radiculopathy are structural lesions, such as herniated disk, bony impingement from spondylosis and mass lesions, such as epidural abscess and metastatic tumour to the spine. Radiculopathy may also be caused by non-structural lesions, such as carcionomatous or lymphomatous meningitis, borreliosis and herpes zoster infection. MRI is widely used to identify structural lesions causing radiculopathy. Bone and disk diseases most frequently affect the cervical (C4–8) and lumbosacral (L3–S1) segments. MRI findings of foraminal impingement and nerve root compression directly support the diagnosis of radiculopathy. MRI is also useful for visualization of the denervated muscles to confirm the involved myotomes. For example, MRI for patients with subacute lumbar radiculopathy may show a high STIR signal in the muscles of the affected root level, with which needle EMG findings of acute denervation closely correlate (Carter et al., 1997). Foot drop is a typical situation in which MRI is useful for diagnosis. When foot drop is caused by L5 radiculopathy, MRI may reveal denervation signals in the anterior compartment muscles (TA, EDL and PL) and the TP muscle. A peroneal mononeuropathy may also cause weakness of the anterior compartment muscles (see also the section 5.1.4), but TP would not be involved because it is innervated by the tibial nerve. Thus, whether TP muscle is involved or not has a key diagnostic value in foot drop (Bendszus and Koltzenburg, 2001).

Case Presentation

Case 1: S1 radiculopathy A 75-year-old man has been conservatively treated for lumbago, sciatica and intermittent claudication, caused by lumbar canal stenosis associated with intervertebral disk hernia at L4/5 and L5/S1 levels. Neurological examination revealed weakness of the left GC muscle with absent ankle jerk. Active neurogenic EMG changes and increased STIR signals were observed in the soleus and GC muscles (Fig. 3a), supporting the diagnosis of S1 radiculopathy.

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Case 2: L5-S1 polyradiculopathy

A 53-year-old man experienced progressive weakness of the left lower extremity. He had a past history of lumbar spondylosis, which was surgically treated at the age 49. MRI showed high STIR signals in the muscles of L5 and S1 myotomes (TA, EDL, PL, TP, soleus and GC, Fig. 3b).

a

STIR

b

STIR

Abbreviations: extensor digitorum longus (EDL), gastrocnemius lateral head (GcL), gastrocnemius medial head (GcM), peroneus longus (PL), tibialis anterior (TA), tibialis posterior (TP).

Fig. 3. Axial MRI (STIR) of the leg in two patients with S1 radiculopathy (a) and L5+S1 polyradiculopathy (b).

5.3 Polyneuropathy Polyneuropathy is characterized by a distal symmetrical distribution of sensory motor deficits. Sensory loss occurs in a glove and stocking distribution, and motor weakness begins in the distal limbs. There are many causes of polyneuropathy, including nutritional deficiencies, immunological conditions, systemic metabolic disorders, toxins and hereditary disorders. The distal dominant distribution of the sensory motor symptoms may reflect a length-dependent process of dying-back axonopathy. Or it may reflect a demyelinating process, which also shows a length-dependent pattern because longer fibres have a higher probability of conduction block due to demyelination. Recent MRI studies have demonstrated the length-dependent pattern or centripetal progression of muscle denervation in both acquired (Andersen et al., 2004; Andreassen et al., 2009) and hereditary (Gallardo et al., 2006; Chung et al., 2008) forms of polyneuropathy. Diabetic patients commonly develop sensory polyneuropathy with distal pain and sensory loss. Diabetic polyneuropathy also leads to denervation and loss of distal muscles. Andersen and colleagues estimated muscle volumes in patients with long-term diabetic polyneuropathy by using a stereological determination method based on cross-sectional T1-weighted MRI (Andersen et al., 2004). The volume of the intrinsic foot muscles was halved in diabetic patients with chronic neuropathy, in comparison with that of diabetic patients without neuropathy. The foot muscle volume was closely related to the compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) of the peroneal nerve. Muscle atrophy occurs early in the feet and progresses steadily in the lower legs. Distal dominant denervation also occurs in hereditary forms of polyneuropathy. Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is a pathologically and genetically heterogeneous polyneuropathy, divided into demyelinating type (e.g. CMT 1A) and axonal type (e.g. CMT 2A). Both CMT 1A and 2A are characterized by distal muscular atrophy and patients with minimal phenotype

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may show fatty infiltration limited to intrinsic foot muscles on T1-weighted MRI (Berciano et al., 2010). This finding supports the notion that pes cavus, a cardinal manifestation of CMT, is associated with selective denervation of intrinsic foot muscles. Afterwards, weakness in the more proximal muscles progresses with variable severity. Interestingly, CMT 1A patients show denervation predominantly in the muscles supplied by the peroneal nerve: muscles in the anterior and lateral compartments show selective fatty infiltration with relative preservation of the posterior compartment muscles (Price et al., 1993; Gallardo et al., 2006; Chung et al, 2008). By contrast, in most of the late-onset CMT 2A patients, MRI shows preferential involvement of the soleus muscle with relatively spared deep posterior compartment muscles. The thigh muscles may also be involved during the advanced stage of CMT. A T1-weighted signal may be stronger on the distal side of the vastus lateralis and medialis muscles on coronal images (Chung et al., 2008; Berciano et al., 2010). In addition to T1 high signals that reflect fatty infiltration, T2 high signals and Gd enhancement were also reported in both CMT 1A and 2A patients (Gallardo et al., 2005; Chung et al., 2008). Because T2 prolongation and Gd enhancement are usually observed in acutely denervated muscles, it is difficult to interpret these findings in a chronic disorder with minimal clinical progression over decades. It might indicate subclinical active denervation, but future studies are needed to better understand the muscle MRI findings in CMT.

Case Presentation: CMT type 2

A 41-year-old man, who gradually developed gait disturbance since adolescence, was referred to our hospital for neurological evaluation. One of his uncles has similar gait disturbance. On neurological examination, he had distal-dominant weakness of the lower extremities and sensory loss in a glove and stocking distribution. A nerve conduction study showed decreased CMAP and sensory nerve action potential amplitudes with preserved conduction velocities in all examined nerves, indicating sensory motor axonal polyneuropathy. Clinical diagnosis of CMT type 2 was made. On coronal T2-weighted MRI, the GC muscle showed a high intensity signal with distal accentuation (arrowheads in Fig. 4a). A T1-weighted MRI showed fatty infiltration of the anterior, lateral and superficial posterior compartment muscles (Fig. 4b).

a

T2WI

b

T1WI

Fig. 4. Muscle MRI of a patient with CMT type 2. (a) T2-weighted coronal (a) and T1-weighted axial (b) MRI of legs.

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5.4 Mononeuropathy multiplex Mononeuropathy multiplex is a clinical syndrome characterized by an asymmetric, stepwise

progression of sensory motor deficits involving more than one peripheral or cranial nerve.

Mononeuropathy multiplex is often associated with systemic or non-systemic vasculitis,

including polyarteritis nodosa, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Churg-

Strauss syndrome and Wegener's granulomatosis. The common peroneal nerve is affected in

75% of patients with vasculitic neuropathy, causing a painful foot drop.

Multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) and multifocal acquired demyelinating sensory and

motor neuropathy (MADSAM, or Lewis-Sumner syndrome) also show the clinical pattern of

mononeuropathy multiplex, with electrophysiological evidence of demyelination and

conduction block. Brachial plexus of MMN patients is known to show swelling and an

increased signal on T2-weighted MRI (van Es et al., 1997). In a few cases, the high intensity

signal has been shown to co-localize with conduction block (Parry, 1996). The Gd

enhancement effect of the swollen nerve roots has also been described in MMN (Kaji et al.,

1993; Perry, 1996). On the other hand, little is known about the muscle MRI findings in

MMN. An example case of MMN presented below showed an increased T1 signal in the

muscles associated with the nerves with conduction block.

Case Presentation: MMN

A 59-year old man gradually developed clumsiness of the right hand over 10 years. On

neurological examination, he had asymmetric weakness of the upper limbs, especially

bilateral intrinsic hand muscles and the right extensor muscles. Severe atrophy was present

in the bilateral thenar, hypothenar and right brachioradialis muscles (Fig. 5a). There was no

sensory deficit and all deep tendon reflexes were absent. Nerve conduction studies revealed

multiple conduction blocks. Radial-innervated muscles showed marked atrophy with (SP,

ECU, APL; arrowheads in Fig. 5b, c) or without (ED, ECRB, BR; arrows in Fig. 5b, c) signal

change on T1-weighted MRI.

SP

ED

BRECRB

ECU

ED

APL

ECU

a b c

T1WI T1WI

Abbreviations: abductor pollicis longus (APL), brachioradialis (BR), extensor carpi radialis brevis

(ECRB), extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU), extensor digitorum (ED), supinator (SP).

Fig. 5. A case of multifocal motor neuropathy. (a) Muscle atrophy in the bilateral thenar,

hypothenar and right brachioradialis muscles. (b, c) Axial T1-weighted muscle MRI of the

right forearm.

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5.5 Plexopathy Brachial plexopathy causes pain, paresthesia and motor weakness in the distribution of nerve roots C5 to Th1. Common causes of brachial plexopathy include trauma, neoplastic infiltration, neuralgic amyotrophy, delayed radiation injury and thoracic outlet syndrome. Bilbey et al. showed that MRI is 63% sensitive and 100% specific in demonstrating the abnormality of the brachial plexus in a diverse patient population (Bilbey et al., 1994). When plexopathy is caused by a mass lesion, MRI can often determine whether the mass is intrinsic or extrinsic to the plexus. MRI is also useful for characterizing neoplastic processes (e.g. nerve sheath tumours, metastases, direct extension of non-neurogenic primary tumour and lymphoma) and benign processes (e.g. fibromatosis, lipoma, myositis ossificans, ganglioneuroma, hemangioma and lymphangioma) (Bowen and Seidenwurm, 2008). Lumbosacral plexopathy is a relatively rare clinical entity that induces sensory motor deficits in the distribution of L1 to S3 segments, causing weakness and sensory loss in the territories of the obturator, femoral, gluteal (motor only), peroneal and tibial nerves. Common causes of lumbosacral plexopathy include trauma (e.g. pelvic fracture), diabetic amyotrophy, retroperitoneal haemorrhage, tumours and inflammation.

GcL

Soleus

GcM

AdMSMST

BF

VL

VI

GMax

VI

AdM

RF VM

a b

c d

PL

T2WI T2WI

T2WI STIR

Abbreviations: adductor magnus (AdM), biceps femoris (BF), gastrocnemius lateral head (GcL), gastrocnemius medial head (GcM), gluteus maximus (GMax), peloneus longus (PL), rectus femoris (RF), semimenbranosus (SM), semitendinosus (ST), vastus intermedius (VI), vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM).

Fig. 6. Post-irradiation lumbosacral pexopathy in a 50-year-old man. (a-c) Axial T2-weighted MRI of the hip (a), thigh (b) and leg (c). (d) STIR images of the thigh.

Muscle MRI findings of plexopathy have not been established yet. Several studies report muscle MRI findings in neuralgic amyotrophy, also known as Parsonage-Turner syndrome (Gaskin and Helms, 2006; Scalf et al., 2007). The most typical finding of neuralgic amyotrophy is diffuse high signal intensity on T2-weighted images involving one or more

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muscles innervated by the brachial plexus. T1-weighted images may also show atrophy of the affected muscles. The supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles, both innervated by the suprascapular nerve, are most frequently affected (>80%). Less frequently involved are the axillary-innervated deltoid and teres minor muscles. MRI has an advantage in that it can exclude other causes of shoulder pain, such as rotator cuff tear, impingement syndrome or labral tear.

Case Presentation: Post-irradiation lumbosacral plexopathy

A 50-year-old man gradually developed weakness of the bilateral legs over 10 years. He had

a history of suprasellar germinoma at the age of 24, which went into complete remission

after radiation and chemotherapy. On neurological examination, he showed weakness of the

bilateral legs without sensory deficits. Needle EMG showed chronic neurogenic changes

and myokimic discharges in the leg muscles, which supported the diagnosis of radiation-

induced delayed lumbosacral plexopathy.

T1- and T2-weighted MRI showed an asymmetric high intensity signal in the hip, thigh and

calf muscles (arrows in Fig. 6a-c). The involved muscles showed isointensity signals on STIR

images (Fig. 6d). Taken together, the MRI study was compatible with the idea of chronic-

stage denervation in the distribution of lumbosacral plexopathy.

6. Conclusion

We reviewed the clinical utility of muscle MRI on a variety of peripheral nerve disorders.

MRI has reasonable sensitivity for detecting denervated muscles. Future improvement of

scan sequences and availability of higher field scanners would make the sensitivity even

higher. Yet, its disease specificity is limited and MRI plays a complementary role in the

diagnosis of peripheral nerve disorders.

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Peripheral Neuropathy - Advances in Diagnostic and TherapeuticApproachesEdited by Dr. Ghazala Hayat

ISBN 978-953-51-0066-9Hard cover, 206 pagesPublisher InTechPublished online 29, February, 2012Published in print edition February, 2012

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Over the last two decades we have seen extensive progress within the practice of neurology. We have refinedour understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis for both peripheral and central nervous system diseases,and developed new therapeutic approaches towards these diseases. Peripheral neuropathy is a commondisorder seen by many specialists and can pose a diagnostic dilemma. Many etiologies, including drugs thatare used to treat other diseases, can cause peripheral neuropathy. However, the most common cause isDiabetes Mellitus, a disease all physicians encounter. Disability due to peripheral neuropathy can be severe,as the patients suffer from symptoms daily. This book addresses the advances in the diagnosis and therapiesof peripheral neuropathy over the last decade. The basics of different peripheral neuropathies is brieflydiscussed, however, the book focuses on topics that address new approaches to peripheral neuropathies.

How to referenceIn order to correctly reference this scholarly work, feel free to copy and paste the following:

Nozomu Matsuda, Shunsuke Kobayashi and Yoshikazu Ugawa (2012). Role of Skeletal Muscle MRIinPeripheral Nerve Disorders, Peripheral Neuropathy - Advances in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches,Dr. Ghazala Hayat (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-51-0066-9, InTech, Available from:http://www.intechopen.com/books/peripheral-neuropathy-advances-in-diagnostic-and-therapeutic-approaches/role-of-skeletal-muscle-mri-inperipheral-nerve-disorders

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